A. A query on the radio, whether Jesus was a
vegetarian, brings to mind the interesting question of what foods Jesus ate and
drank while he was here on the earth. While we might make some guesses based on
what were the common foods of the Jewish culture in that chronological period,
the following answers will stick to references in Scripture. The answer divides
into two categories – what is stated that he ate & drank, and what is implied
that he ate & drank.[i]
Stated
- Fish - Luke 24:41-43 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them.
- Honey with comb - Luke 24:41-43, see above.
- Water - John 4:7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.
- Bread - Mark 15:22 And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.
- Fruit of the vine - Mark 14:24-25 And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many. Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.
- Vinegar - John 19:29-30 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
Implied
- Bread and wine - Luke 7:33-34 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil. The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!
- Wine - John 2:1-11, Matthew 11:19
- Lamb - Matthew 26:17 Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover? Luke 22:7-8 Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed. And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat.[ii]
- Figs - Mark 11:13 And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.
- Corn/grain - Matthew 12:1 At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn and to eat.
- Loaves/bread - John 6:11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. John 21:13 Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.
- Fish - John 6: 11, 21:13, see above.[iii]
[i] Most references are not
specific. For example, the Bible tells us Jesus made wine at a wedding, but
does not specify that he drank it. We know Jesus multiplied loaves (of bread)
and fish, but on that occasion the Bible does not specify that he ate. Yet most
would agree that his communal partaking is at the least implied.
[ii] Exodus
12:21 Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw
out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover.
[iii] Some other references
related to Jesus eating or drinking: Matthew
9:10, Mark
9:41, Luke
5:30, Luke
7:36, John
4:8, 31, John
12:2
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